Southeast Asian and Gulf nations are set to hold a three-way summit with China on Tuesday in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, aiming to boost economic ties and strengthen regional cooperation amid growing global uncertainty and rising US trade tension.The summit brings together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Chinese premier Li Qiang. It marks the first such meeting between all three parties, reported AP.Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who opened the summit, said stronger ASEAN-GCC ties are crucial for building economic resilience and securing sustainable growth. “The ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape.”The GCC- made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates- was ASEAN’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2023, with trade totaling $130.7 billion.Kuwait’s crown prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah noted that the summit builds on their first meeting in Riyadh last year, with hopes of deepening cooperation to better handle global crises.China’s premier Li Qiang’s presence underscores China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia, where many countries continue to engage with both China and the United States despite rising tensions between the two powers.Recently, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs, with six ASEAN countries among the hardest hit, with tariffs between 32 per cent and 49 per cent. Though a 90-day pause was announced in April, concerns remain. Anwar has called for a special ASEAN summit with Trump to address the tariffs.Analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat from Universiti Malaya said ASEAN’s growing ties with China, while relying on US defense support, reflect a delicate balance. He warned that this trend may push the US to pull back from the region, potentially allowing China to expand its influence even further.Despite overlapping territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving several ASEAN members and China, the bloc has remained largely neutral, aiming to maintain relations with both major powers.
